I like to joke with my husband that my loyalty lies with God, him, our family, and my hairdresser (and in that order). But in all honesty, that statement is pretty accurate. And I have seen enough posts in Facebook groups written by women desperately searching for a salon suggestion to know that a good hairdresser is worth her weight in gold. If you’re like me and you have found that special hair person who makes being trapped in a chair (sometimes for hours) fun, you know just how wonderful it is to have her in your life.
So, in order to give credit where it’s due, I think we should recognize hairdressers for some of the many reasons they are so important:
First, they are there to bail you out of hair mishaps.
I vividly remember leaving a tearful message on my hairdresser’s voicemail begging her to call me back ASAP. I had made the mistake of going somewhere else for a trim and my hair was noticeably longer on one side than the other. As luck would have it, it was also exactly one week before I was supposed to have engagement pictures made. In my defense, I was away at college, so I didn’t have a lot of options on where to get a haircut, but you better believe I regretted not waiting until I got home to see her.
They are with you for the big events in life.
My hairdresser has been my hairdresser since I was in high school, so she has pretty much seen it all, when it comes to me and my hair. She has been a part of almost every major milestone. She was the person who styled my prom hair and did my updo on my wedding day. She was there to do my hair when each of my sisters got married and was sure to fit me in for a trim before my twins were born. She gave my girls their first haircuts and made them love it so much that they played hair salon for days after.
They are good at their jobs, and you NEED them.
During Covid, we all were reminded of this in a big way. I know my hair never looked more unkept. It was all I could do to resist the temptation to cut my own bangs or try to color my own hair. It was mainly the reaction I knew I would get from my hairdresser that kept me off that ledge. I also found an even deeper appreciation for the skills required to do hair when I took on the role of being my husband’s barber.
They help you feel your best.
I know that after a baby you are supposed to give yourself grace and that looks don’t matter anyways, but it’s tough to feel glamourous when you’re newly postpartum. When the rest of your body still feels foreign to you, it’s so nice to get fresh hair to help you feel more like yourself again. I love to get a good “mom chop” after having a baby to make myself feel better and to make my hair routine easier. My hairdresser is always happy to do this. And when postpartum hair loss happens (and it always does) she artfully gives me cute bangs to hide those annoying bald spots in the front.
They make it a fun experience.
Yes, I have strayed a few times over the years, and have gone to someone else for my hair needs. Moving a few times made it necessary. But it just wasn’t the same. Frankly, at this point going to anyone else almost feels like cheating. Even though it’s a 40-minute drive to get my hair done now, I happily make the trek across town. Going to get my hair cut and colored is like a small getaway where I get to do something that’s just for me, and I look forward to it every time.
